Eat Radishes, Skip the Pharmacy
By admin on 2015-01-07

They say when radishes are on the market, people can forget pharmacies. Radishes can clear a stuffy nose, ease sore joints, even help you sober up, writes Zhang Qian.

The array of food available in winter is beguiling and it's not season-bound any more. Despite the tempting choices and varieties, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) doctors recommend you base your choices more on your constitution than your taste buds.

Many people believe that hot (yang) foods like mutton are always the best choices in winter since they help keep us warm, TCM-wise, in the cold weather. Though mutton is a favorite in winter, it is not suitable for everyone, says Dr Zhou Duan, director of the Internal Medicine Department of Longhua Hospital, attached to Shanghai University of TCM.

One's constitution (hot/cold or yin/yang) should always be the priority when choosing foods, says Dr Zhou. Most people are neutral.

Don't forget fruits and veggies - pears, oranges, longan, white radishes and cabbage are especially good for most people.

TCM theory holds that the constitution of a human body is mostly determined at birth. Some diseases and conditions, like high blood pressure, may alter the constitution, but the changing weather will not change it.

"A 'hot' person is extremely sensitive to heat in winter as well as other seasons, but their condition is less apparent in winter. That's why he or she will find winter more agreeable. It's the same for a 'cold' people in summer," he says.

"Therefore, hot people shouldn't take too much hot food, even in winter."

Here are some popular and nutritious fruits and vegetables often eaten in winter. They are suitable for most people.